Black Swan in New Jersey (with pics)

[usman]

So last summer, I went to feed the ducks near my house in New Jersey (USA) and I found a Black Swan.

Here are pictures of it: one (http://www.whoisusman.com/stuff/me_and_the_goose.jpg) and two (http://www.whoisusman.com/stuff/black_goose.jpg)

I thought it was a goose, but my friend found this picture (http://www.scz.org/animals/s/bswan.html) proving me wrong.

SO MY QUESTION IS, what's a Black Swan doing in New Jersey??? According to the link above, it's only supposed to be in Australia and New Zealand.

[peachfront]

They're introduced to Europe apparently but they are also ornamental birds so your Black Swan could be an escapee. A couple years back, there were some reports of Black Swan in Louisiana swamps but I don't think anyone serious saw them and I think the conclusion was that it was a case of hysteria? But since I have encountered folks occasionally who had Black Swan on their ponds as ornamentals, I'm not so sure these people didn't see what they thought they saw.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Usman,

Welcome to BirdForum!

Guess you're answer is in the link photo - it escaped from Sedgwick County Zoo . . . or whatever other zoo is nearest to you. Or at least from someone who keeps them as pets (you'd be surprised what some people like to have!!)

I see them escaped over here (northeast England) from time to time as well

Michael

[usman]

They're introduced to Europe apparently but they are also ornamental birds so your Black Swan could be an escapee. A couple years back, there were some reports of Black Swan in Louisiana swamps but I don't think anyone serious saw them and I think the conclusion was that it was a case of hysteria? But since I have encountered folks occasionally who had Black Swan on their ponds as ornamentals, I'm not so sure these people didn't see what they thought they saw. Thanks for your reply, I'll look up my local INS. :)

[usman]

Hi Usman,

Welcome to BirdForum!

Guess you're answer is in the link photo - it escaped from Sedgwick County Zoo . . . or whatever other zoo is nearest to you. Or at least from someone who keeps them as pets (you'd be surprised what some people like to have!!)

I see them escaped over here (northeast England) from time to time as well

Michael Thanks for your reply. Shouldn't importing non-native species like this be illegal? I recall reading that the mute swan has turned into a huge pest after it was introduced to the United States.

[Johnandzenda]

My wife returned from visiting her parents in Seaside Heights, NJ where this black swan visited their dock. We just got the photos back, enjoy!

[usman]

Very nice! I noticed that the black swan I saw was very aggressive, did you get the same impression?

[Peewit]

Very nice! I noticed that the black swan I saw was very aggressive, did you get the same impression?

I have never seen them being aggressive myself. I wonder if they are? Maybe that they are a success, where they end up.

[marcus]

I have seen lots of Black Swan escapees. And I have heard that they are supposed to be pretty mean too, even though I have found Mute Swans more to be like that. In Long Island, where there are very many Mute Swans, I used to be chased away by them. Once I thought I stand and be brave and I got a bad bite on a finger!